The genetics and breeding of taro

7 Foreword

8 Acknowledgements

9 Résumé

11 Introduction

15 Taro and related aroid species

39 Systematics of taro

39 Vernacular names in major languages

39 Botanical classification

42 Ploidy levels

45 Origin and centres of diversity

51 Genetic resources

51 Brief description of the crop

58 Classification of taro genotypes

63 Germplasm collections

65 Characterization and evaluation of taro genetic resources

79 Reproductive biology

79 Structure of inflorescence

87 Flowering

91 Pollination and fertilization systems

94 Fruit

94 Seed

99 Breeding

99 Breeding methods

109 Planting seeds

113 Selection

118 Main targets and brief description of breeding approaches

141 References

149 Appendix

151 The morpho-agronomic descriptors for Colocasia

177 Glossary

189 Plates